Congress has proposed a bill which could mandate sideguards and increased requirements for rearguards on all trucks. Proposed by Sen. Kristen Gillibrand and co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, the bi-partisan bill aims to help mitigate the damage and save lives when cars and trucks collide.
Introduced on Tuesday, the Stop Underrides Act of 2017 takes aim at traffic deaths caused when a car runs into the side or rear of a truck and is pushed under, often causing catastrophic damage to both the vehicle and its occupants. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 301 people died in side underride crashes in 2015 alone.
In May of this year, IIHS released a report recommending that regulators consider making underride guards mandatory. The recommendation came after tests found that even at only 35 mph, a car colliding with the side of a trailer would be pushed under, shearing the top of the car off, and causing certainly fatal injuries to a driver. With a side underride guard in place, the driver’s life would likely have been saved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently considering side underride regulations.
After the report was published, the ATA voiced concern about the additional weight that side underride guards would add and worried that they could cause structural issues in the trailer. Instead, the ATA pushed for “wider deployment of advanced vehicle safety technologies like automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems can help prevent all kinds of crashes, including those into the sides of truck.”
The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association has also voiced their opposition to side underride guards in the past, claiming that there are currently insurmountable cost and technical challenges which prevent them from being feasible.
According to Sen. Gillibrand however, underride guards “are an easy solution for protecting people and preventing them from dying when a car collides with a truck.”
Source: truckinginfo, nbcnews, fleetowner, overdrive, syracuse, wjmynews2, truckersreport
Shogun says
Once again, since car drivers are mostly idiots, it rests on the shoulders of the trucking industry to protect them. Makes so much sense. Maybe they will bounce off the trailer and get T-boned since that Facebook update or some tweet was super important.
Rags says
You are so right on that. This is exactly why, among 100 other reasons I am retiring from driving in 4 more days.
Ed says
This is ridiculous. Phones, distracted driving, and alcohol kill more people every year than cancer! I don’t see them putting breathalyzers in every car or mandating smart technology that prevents drivers from using their phone while driving! This is just another way to enable them. Pretty soon we’ll all have bumper cars!
Bryce Carroll says
I wish Kristen Gillibrand would drive her car under the side of a truck.
Lance FontanneSr says
Totally agree!
Jeremy M says
Couldn’t agree more.As you stated,4 wheeler’s will just bounce off the apparatus and end up out of control into the path of other vehicles subjecting more motorists to potential injury/property damage.
This is another example of bonehead bureaucracy,at the hands of individuals in places of power and influence,with no clue what they’re talking about.
Danny Huggins says
This is something else to drive up the cost of owning a big truck that will force the small business out of business. How about educate the public about sharing the highway with big truck. But that don’t cost the truck owner anything.
Jude says
It happens that way mainly because with most drivers moving most of the time, it’s hard to get us really organized (I don’t mean “unionized”) to put up any kind of effective resistance movement. Shutdowns have been tried but were ineffective. Slowing down will simply result in jobs being lost and given to what comes out of the local driving school.
kc says
If Cogress would stop trying to micro manage the trucking industry, and focus more on the idiots they issue a drivers licence, there would be less accidents involving Tractor Trailers.
Nick lane says
More to protect the stupid how much will it really weigh n save . Better use of the money would be more training in class of drivers Ed for 4 wheelers SMH just how for we go and pay for to protect the people who don’t pay attention
Becky says
So who’s paying for these upgrades? The senators proposing it? Once again the trucking industry will pay for the stupidity of others.,
Apotex says
If their goal is to make trucking co’s go out of business, they will succeed in their goal. It’s also important to note that the skirt did nothing to stop the car from going under the trailer. Bravo!
Kurt says
I thought that crap was for fuel economy it’s required in California
Andrew Hunt says
They want an additional, solid bumper-like rail ran along the side, just more things to get tied up on humps on the road.
Jason Aho says
What’s pictured is not a side underride guard, as evidenced by how far the car is under the trailer. It is in fact for fuel economy. I suspect that a side underride guard would look much different and weigh a hell of a lot more than the fairings you currently see in some trailers.
Jason Aho says
On, not in:)
Tt says
If you watch the video all the way through you will see that it shows the car going under on the side supports which are not made to prevent the car from going under and then afterwards it shows the reinforced side panels and the car does not go under it’s really not that hard to understand.
Joe Spence says
They are talking about dot style bars the length of the trailer
Wayne says
No it’s not required in CA and nothing to do with CARB
James says
It is required in CA. Two years ago I had to do all my trailers.
Jeff says
The guard rails they are talking about are the ones that you sometimes see under fuel tankers. Pretty much look like guard rails running from the tandems up to the landing gear.
Steven says
In ga we don’t have a crash bar like ur talking about it won’t stop a car it’s aluminum it’s designed to lock the parking brake in an accident so the tanker doesn’t keep rolling down the highway even then u have to remove the bar for it to work been hit at about 5mph didn’t bend anything or hurt the trailer
donald Comstock says
Yes it is trailer without it can’t get loaded in California let alone go in to California
claude heck says
check out what you are talking about first , it is law in ca and out of state carriers are also required if 35% of their fleet runs in calf.
Sam Wilson says
Claude Heck, You are exactly right about the California Law!
Donavan degraff says
Not the air flow deal they are talking about a bumper all the way down the side
Jude says
The air deflector benefits will be offset completely by the weight of any effective form of guard to prevent running under the trailer.
Blame WHO? says
Weight goes up, freight volume is lost, More trucks will be needed to replace loss freight volume, therefor More risk to people by additional trucks and traffic. WOW!
Grubberment MORON Logic in action.
DEEZ NUTZ says
Lol you are the reason people think truck drivers are stupid. Rofl
Andrew Hunt says
Then when more trucks are hung up on various things like railroad crossings, they’ll have another issue at hand. Like the poster above, we need better education to drivers around semi trucks, and stricter distracted driving laws regarding non commercial vehicles. Maybe give cars the same rules as trucks. Caught with phone out, $7,000 ticket.
Kc says
Really why don’t they spend time driving a truck before they make up this nonsense. Why doesn’t the government make that a requirement before anyone can offer a bill? Stupid just never sleeps or goes away and here is more proof of that.
Here is my take for offering a bill the mandatory requirement would be for the person or persons to work in the field for for no less than 8 months and get all the gualifications require for the proper experience before they open their damn mouth and present something they have absolutely no knowledge of.
Tt says
Ridiculous
jeremy Dunn says
Why dont they require all non cdl drivers to take a 2 week long course and pass a skills test about how to co-exsist on the road with comercial vehicles. If the probem is cars hitting trucks and not trucks hitting cars then it seems to me the non cdl driver is the problem and they need to bear the cost and inconvience of the fix!!!!
John says
ONLY 301 people died of the millions on the road! These numbers don’t add up! The bean counter for The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs to be replaced.
Lawmakers and enforcers need to come down on the folks eyeing the screen in the hand. Also, driving schools these days don’t warn students much about the hazards of driving around trucks.
In the 70’s &.80’s trucks lost parts on the road all the time. My instructor told brutal stories of accidents and told us to keep our distance from the truck.
EDUCATE & ENFORCE!
k-cam says
roll cages in cars and pick up’s – make that a law and the problem is solved….
James says
Or require car owners to install suspension lift kits on their car so it doesn’t go under trailer. Make as much since to me.
Laurie Higginbotham says
Really. Only 301 people died. Thankfully one of them was not your child. When you lose a child in a senseless crash one person dying is to many. For the record my son was not texting or on his phone. He was traveling 31 mph when a truck driver, over his hours made an illegal turn on an unlit road at the bottom of a hill. Justify that to me.
Jerry says
While the loss of those 301 people represent a catastrophic, life-changing tragedy for their loved ones and families, their deaths, regardless of fault, do not statistically justify a major change to an entire industry. In the case of your son’s crash, the truck driver, not his trailer, was the problem.
Oscar says
She got rich 😂
Michael E Errickson says
31 miles a hour and couldn’t stop???
William Paul McKechnie says
Didn’t want to stop or wasn’t paying attention.
Patricia Munsch says
Sounds to me like someone wasn’t paying attention. Drivers of cars need to still watch out for other drivers. It just so happens it was a semi
Toby Boettcher says
More info on driver?
Brandon says
These trailers are required by law and are enforced to have a reflective red and white tape all around the trailer as well as working lights. These trailers are always highly visible at all times. If your son didn’t see the trailer then he was either blind or he didn’t have his lights on. If he was paying attention then he would have seen it. This was not the fault of the truck driver, but the fault of an inattentive driver of the car (Your son). Don’t be mad at the truck driver. He was just trying to make a paycheck.
Douglas Kirk says
Sorry for your loss, but you can’t blanket the whole country with extra nonsense because one person had a problem. If you read the article you will see how the trailer manufacturers say it isn’t practical to put side protection on. It would have to be quite heavy to do any good, and that will result in less product per load and more trucks required to move the freight…..nobody thinks of the practical side, just the hysterical reaction
Jon says
Truck Drivers are told have to watch out and anticipate unexpected behaviors of the traffic around them.
I would only expect people that drive cars to heed that advice and be prepared to stop.
Traffic lights will turn yellow and 3 seconds later, at 35 miles an hour you are expected to stop.
mike C. says
expect it to change , drive 30mph as you approach the light and you will be able to stop .
Patricia Munsch says
Thanks my thoughts exactly
William Paul McKechnie says
Don’t drive under a truck!
Donavan degraff says
Read the bible for the path to see him again. Sorry for your loss.
Robert B Smith says
Accidents happen. So sorry for your loss. We simply cannot fix every situational problem nor should we try. There are risks to getting on the road. 301 out of 50,000 is less than 1% and can you imagine the amount of money and loss fixing this problem then multiply that by 200 just to fix the rest assuming the problems have solutions. How about this? Attach a rail to the road and we can all run the same speed.
DEEZ NUTZ says
Well at 31 mph he should have been able to STOP I bet he was texting or not paying attention. So beacuse your son died a whole industry has to pay? Thanks in advance of another stupid regulation.
Josh says
Thats what i was going to say. 301 people out of millions is your reason to make the trucking industry loose a crapload more money. People will never stop dying, we don’t need a nanny state to protect us.
Lisa says
Looks like the new anti-regulation sentiment in Washington only applies to bankers, not us. Marco Rubio? Trump will sign this bill, suckers.
Iriemonarch says
This bill is another expense we have to shoulder because of the irresponsible actions of car drivers. Too many regulations will continue to erode the driver pool. I thought donny dumbnutts was going to MAGA ?
Don M says
More nanny state legislation so that the druggies, drunks, and distracted drivers can be rendered safe.
Why don’t they just mandate that car drivers stay away from trucks.
Jay says
Why don’t you guys go out to the four wheelers etc. the truck drivers all the time we do our jobs we do it will get to four Rivers attention tell him learn to pay tension and quit playing on the phone put make up on that would increase safety but no are you want to do is pick on truck drivers because you got nothing else to do but go after us really sucks because you won’t do anything else about the cars Weaving in and out of trafficAnd slamming on their brakes go out to them people give us a break
Steve Serbus says
Once again politicians trying to make themselves feel good and make it look like they’re actually doing something to try and save all of us from every possible danger we all might incur upon ourselves in life. If they can’t spend more money then they’ll force all of us to spend more money. IT’S TIME WE ENFORCE OUR OWN TERM LIMITS AND VOTE OUT EVERY INCUMBENT SENATOR AT EVERY ELECTION! C’mon people, WAKE UP!
Frank says
Gillibrand? Haven’t heard THAT NAME lately in the news. No mouthguards recommended for ill-informed politicians? New policy is to remove TWO CURRENT REGS for any new ones. So sure. Let’s go and get these new safety features in place while eliminating two unsafe ones at the SAME TIME. New underride guards to trailers applied, while e-logs and 1/2hr DOT required breaks as per 8hrs drive time go BYE BYE. I’m all in. Anyone else???
Larry says
I like the way you think Frank. I’m in.
OLD GUY says
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Gretta de Tetons says
We are going about this backwards. There are more of them than us. And they crash into each other more than they do into us. Ummm, now as you can tell, only rocket scientists should try this at home, but my calculations on the back of the gas bill envelope leads me to conclude that cars are the first line of defense here. And by utilizing cars in their own defense, you reduce injuries from them whacking each other with the bonus points from not whacking a truck from time to time. Hecky darn, if we aren’t careful, my mother-in-law, who is a brain surgeon when she isn’t slinging hash at the roach coach, told me she already has the decorations for these Owie Protectors (that’s her name for them). Being a fashionista, she knows that Britney, the part time college student, and Colton, the Walmart night janitor just wouldn’t buy into this unless it was made cool first. Britney could have a guard with ripped blue jeans covering it and Colton could have one with skulls all over it. Personally, my fave name for these guards would be Boob Tubes. Catchy, huh? And here is how it would work. With the surplus of innertubes in all the auto repair shops, I propose we repurpose these tubes and fasten them to the fronts of all cars. Every body safe, every body could then devote all their time to texting and we truckers would find it easier to see the Boobs coming!
David says
I’m not passing judgement on this bill but those of you saying drivers who run under a trailer are stupid are being unfair. How does a car run under a trailer? Uh, because some truck driver pulled across their lane?
John Bigham Sr says
I thought conspicuity tape was supposed to help protect the helpless from themselves. Driver awareness is the cure.
I guess it is easier to mandate an industry to spend billions on gadgets and gizmos. Than to confront the real problem. If the government wants to save lives on our streets and hi ways jamming cell phones in vehicles would be the most beneficial solution.
Todd says
I’m not going to research it, but my guess is there is a financial gain somewhere that these 2 legislators have in mind for this bill. One that comes to mind is they represent a state that manufactures these side rails, by making them required creates money for their state. Who is lobbying for, putting money in their pockets.
Laws are very seldom made for safety, that’s the reason to make it sound all warm and cozy to us idiots. Laws are generally made for financial benefits.
Lynda B. says
More unfunded mandates. At least this one does actually seem to consider safety, as opposed to E-logs, and would supposedly save almost 5 times as many lives. If everyone would just pay attention when they drive, that number could be greatly reduced without any additional expenses! Here’s a novel thought: EDUCATION, NOT LEGISLATION.
Jim Estabrook says
What a couple of complete morons! I’d like to see a stepdeck or rgn with sideguards.
Alex says
Step decks and rgns would not need the side guards, just as they currently don’t need a “dot bumper” on the rear.
It would be based on a trailer with more than a certain amount of clearance underneath, and stepdecks and such would be below that point, since you can’t fit a car underneath one anyway.
Think man! Lol
Europe already has underride guards mandatory on all large vehicles, so the science and methods are proven, and while it will add weight and complexity which I don’t like, it will save lives and reduce injuries, so if they allow some gross weight offset or something, and only require that new trailers be manufactured with it, no retrofits, it could be a good thing. At least for the 300 people and their families…
Douglas Kirk says
Why don’t they outlaw stupid people? Also, just because something is popular in Europe doesn’t mean it works here…..totally different environment
Rob says
Just because something is popular in Europe doesn’t mean it works there, either.
Donavan degraff says
I agree. Cars need roll cages also.
mousekiller says
round a bouts as an example. they suck.
KDub says
Big companies will shut that down due to increased weight.
Hopefully
mousekiller says
No they wont. They will just demand the govt raise the gross wgt be raised to 82,000 lbs.
Brian White says
Here we go. The hack NY Senator Gillibrand and her new BFF Rubio have decided that every semi-trailer in America is a danger to 311 people (out of 330 million) in this country. And to fix it? Thaaaaats right. MORE REGULATIONS!!!
I propose we start with far more effective regulation: TERM LIMITS.
Jeffrey Eakman says
I am in agreement that we must make their driving safer. Far to many untrained, stupid driver’s. Can those who represent us push for a part of the purchase of car purchases be added to cushion the cost of this stupid Bill for us?
Be safe one and all.
August Gilbert says
Why don’t they fix cell phones so they lock out while in motion more than 1 mile an hour just like gps systems and on board logging systems. That way you could not surf the web, text, or play on face book. Maybe the people would put there attention to driving. How can you not see a great big truck in front of you. Always making new rules and dropping it all onto the trucking industry.
Jon says
Because that would take away the rights of the passengers to use their phone and all those features. Who can say when your phone is used by a passenger and when.
mike C. says
they have cell phones that will not let you use them if you are the driver. Blue tooth is probably the only way .The passenger can use their phone but who says that the driver wouldn’t glance over at it ?
Mark says
Because that would affect passengers that use the such devices. Your proposal was no more thought out than the original topic. Let’s just get the politicians out of trucking . It’s already one of the most regulated unregulated industries
mousekiller says
That is ok for a driver, but passengers should not be penalized. example you and your wife are traveling to town. You see something that needs attention of the law enforcement. do you pull over to make that call or shake you head, cuss the system and move on. Bet most just move on. Too inconvenient to stop and help.How about a 911 call? Easy to say but one death due to not being able to make the call and we the trucking industry will be held accountable for it. .Thir not being about to call from a moving car is going to make our highways so much more unsafe due to parked cars on the shoulder and streets.. We see it every day. They are afraid to pull off far enough to safely open a door on a highway. Education and punishment .The only way the will learn. Hit the pocket book if all else fails.
The one big reason we are targeted is simple. We have no togetherness, We do not stand as one. We are afraid to say anything . The new breed driver of today has no experience about how it was and should be. All they know is today. No comparisons., No experience . limited training and skill levels.. sure there are a few that make the grade but damned few today..
Larry says
Then cell carries would whine about lack of consumer use and bill rates would go down.
Mike Davidson says
I really think the best route for safety for four wheelers is to install sensors on top of the car that will send an electric jolt into the driver of said four wheeler through the drivers seat thus making them raise their head from the smart phone hopefully in time to avoid a crash.
Why is it always the trucks that have to do things to help out the motorist that doesn’t pay attention.
mike says
got eld’s some trucks no hook ups for CB (handheld device)
now. this side guard OWNER OPS GOODBYE..you all had a good run but its over more and more cost
oh yeah u lease drivers are not owner operators …company owns u operate
Rick says
All of these years and now they want us to put guardrails on our trucks, why not just force us to ride these people to work and to the grocery store. The government should pay the bill for the things. Also your bill at the shop will be higher maintaining these and the extra time it takes to work around these things.
PapaGrizz says
Goes to show you just can’t fix stupid. Common sense unfortunately is dead in this country.
Groo says
looks like a huge cost in $, time, and fuel to save 300 people a year. There must be more efficient ways to save idiots from themselves.
how about stronger A pillars? that would also help in roll-overs and normal severe front end crashes.
FWIW, I have researched some of these standards currently in place. They are pretty significant and will impact straight trucks and tractors as well. Afterall, got to save the byciclers too.
AJ says
The auto manufacturers would never go for stronger A pillars or roll bars, adds too much weight, which affects their CAFE score, not to mention the cost, they have to protect their shareholders wallets.
They already went to such great lengths to reduce weight using plastic and other materials.
And Gillibrands quote, “are an easy solution for protecting people and preventing them from dying when a car collides with a truck.” …..easy..come on, wake up…
Dick says
How will this work on all of the frameless end dumps
Car drivers need to pay attention to the road
I hate the holiday season because all of the extra clueless drivers on the road
Patricia Munsch says
I understand and a lot of us, most of us don’t have the pleasure of taking holidays off. We always dread New Year’s Eve and the extra drunks on the road
mousekiller says
Exemptions like n the ELD and the HOS. It’s ok you don’t have to follow the herd.Your exempted. just move on.
John Coffman says
How about teaching these idiots not to hit these huge obviously seen vehicles!
Truckers are forced into more crap on a daily basis to try and save people who probably shouldn’t be driving in the first place! If or when they pass this crap I think it should be obvious to our industry that enough is enough and shut it down 😡
Super trucker says
Just let Jesus take the wheel
Korchenko Korchenko says
Once again, sensors that know NOTHING about the trucking industry making bills talking about easy fix. Then the Government can pay for all of that then. What about the extra weight from it and decreased cargo?
OLD GUY says
Better they should die than me if they can’t drive. So stop trying to put the burden on trucks . It’s not truckers fault if the idiots in cars can’t drive or stay off of the damn cell phone . Maybe they should die . It culls the herd of those who can’t drive maybe ? 😈 Human life is cheap if it’s someone else’s .
mike C. says
What about the truck driver thats talking on his cell phone ? They do it and I have seen them doing it when they pass me or I pass them .
gary macdonald says
Are you people insane they make our trailers more of a brick wall which is easier to roll over okay been in several situations to where they are dangerous as hell they’re not stable it’s all a money grabbing thing leave our trucks alone
Nomore says
This is B.S. Had a car run into a parked trailer with these sidebars on. He went all the way under. No stopping stupid.
Robert G says
There are legal truck routes that include gredes that would be impassable with gaurd rails on trucks.
Lance FontanneSr says
4-wheelers need to stay off their damn cell phones and watch the road!
Lostcause says
There are a whole lot of docks I could never get into. The California wings already scrub on them. Rails would just hang me in mud-air!
Larry Lass says
Looks like they would be dead with or without it. Unless the under ride was beefed up. Other than that, I see no difference.
SimpleMan
Snow Walker says
Another proposed idiotic law to compensate for the idiots on the road. I have to agree that the rear guard assembly on trailers is a great idea. Many times, especially on a loose snow covered highway, a four wheeler cannot see a tractor and trailer in front of him/her. A lot of innocent people died because of this.
Those dust and stone shields on the bottom sides of trailers are a good idea for loose gravel roads and stone throwing. With that being said, to add enough reinforcement to those shields that would prevent a sandwich like collision with a car only lessens the weight allowed for a freight load. Once again it’s the OTR who has to do all the sacrificing.
GREGORY BOGHOSIAN says
Great idea kids!! What about those shippers where you got to back down into the dock tearing off your “areowing”? A side impact guard won’t give like those wings do. Now you’re high sided and stuck. Good job suit wearing politicians that’s never seen the inside of a truck.
3.5 Million Safe Miles says
The under ride rails are designed to prevent cars doing 35 miles per hour or less from going under the trailer, thus decapitating the occupants of the vehicle. Of the 301 reported fatalities in 2015, I wonder how many of those were doing 35 miles per hour or less. I would say it is probably only the woman’s son who mentioned his accident earlier in this thread.
3.5 Million Safe Miles says
Even the thick rigid guardrails alongside the highways, will not stop a vehicle traveling above 43 mile per hour head on. So exactly what would the government recommendations for I beams mounted under our trailers Be … Smfh
Linda Merritts says
From the pictures really looks like that is going to work. Stupid people that know nothing about trucking trying to make all the rules, OK Kristen you can pay for all the cost and we will set back and see how that works for you.
Accidents can’t be avoided that’s why they are called accidents. you think!
3.5 Million Safe Miles says
There is no such thing as an accident. Every single Collision is caused by someone’s negligence. Thus removing it from the accident category.
mike C. says
How bout this , put a d.O.T. BAR COMPLETELY AROUND THE TRAILER at the same hight as the rear . it will add more weight to the trailer but it will keep them four wheelers out from under the trailer.
Brett Nicholson says
And due to trailer widths your trailer would have to be 96 inches again to accommodate the extra safety bar.
Lean Dean says
That will work real well. You ever seen a DOT bar that’s been pulled away from the dock? They don’t stop a car as it is..
Brian Schroeder says
Cars are driving under trucks. Why?? Lack of attention/texting/speeding. Solution…..Gillibrand says its easy. Just make the trucks harder to drive under. Thank New York voters for that moron. The best solution is “darwinism” Thin the herd.
Stig Andersen says
It seems to be a good idea at first glance,, and will probably save a few lives. But it will also add more weight to a trailer,. Snow and ice accumulations within the framing and underbody in winter conditions could very easily add thousands of lbs. And be difficult to remove,. Of course the driver would be at fault for being overweight at the scales..
Rocker says
They talk about adding side guards and larger tail guards to trailers. I am assuming this will also include straight box trucks as well. All well and goo but they seem to forget another vehicle that doesn’t carry freight.
Years ago I used to attend the Washington DC Auto Show. The USDOT always had a booth there. I would always ask them about School Buses. Go ahead and take a long look at their back bumpers. There is a huge gap between the bottom of the bumper and the ground. High enough for a 4 wheeler to go right under. They said they were not aware of it. I have seen it myself. Also the height of the top of the bumper is also bad for small children in case they have to do an emergency evacuation. Maybe they can go after school buses.
Brett Nicholson says
Build a survivor on all 4 wheelers that seconds as a reinforced crash-bar utilized to stop an auto from completing an undercarriage event, also an in grill crash-bar to catch on existing rear trailer guards.
Make all in dash user friendly monitors non useable except when stopped in a parked position i.e. Toyota Prius monitors that drivers are so inclined to pay too much attention to while driving that they become a danger to all other vehicular traffic. Ban all smartphones/ cellphones by way of concealment compartments or plug-in that only allows 911 calls and GPS, until the unit is closed in the compartment or plugged in, you wouldn’t be able to place the vehicle in any drive gear. Before these electronics we as a whole had less accidents and the average Joe wasn’t an idiot.
Relying on the trucking industry to implement more and more safety measures to counter stupid moves by ignorant and stupid actions of the motoring public at large does not make our highways and byways any safer.
Only more responsible motoring people, will injuries and death related crashes be reduced. Not placing unrealistic countermeasures on commercial vehicles by truly ignorant politicians who want a name for themselves.
Brian McGaha says
That’s not they just want stupid not to be liable for anything. And looking for another cost to the the trucking industry. So stupid people won’t have to start paying attention to what they are doing.
Kershaw says
It’s time for a tax revolt .these people have way to much money .that’s the only thing that will change the government. Less money less government. Wake up
Brian G. Benson says
Yes, drop 2 for 1
No, gaurd rails aren’t the solution
Problem, distracted driving
Solution, minimize bad desicions
Resolve, 2 hands on steering wheel
Technology, provide a steering wheel that senses 2 hands on the wheel while in motion.
Result, adapted to EVERY VEHICLE, less crashes
Scott says
These laws only protect stupid people. This is why we have so many stupid people because of these laws. They live to breed more stupid people.
Jason Shepherd says
What’s going to happen when we back into a junky dock with holes in it and get those stiff skirts stuck.
Kevin says
If they go ahead with this, they should increase car insurance rates so that these safety devices can be paid for out of a fund from the money collected from the higher car insurance rates.
That will pay for all the extra costs associated with this plan.
Problem solved.
Monty says
Sorry you lost your son. But really what could he have done to prevent that accident. Each and everyone of us has a responsibly to watch out for the other person on the roads.
Penelope Vass says
Or we could expect people to learn better driving habits.
George Kalogeropoulos says
More rules..more regulations..more expenses…where has common sense gone? These clowns at FMSCA and DOT should stop harassing the transport industry and using it as a scapegoat for accidents! Eld mandate. Now this…what next? I think these clowns shoyld be thrown in jail for making our job almost impossible!
Mack Daddy says
Teach car drivers to properly operate a car as a vehicle and to p a y attention to driving and not other activities while driving. But on the other hand, if they are drunk, fatigued, high as a kite and using the phone while operating a car and they get lodged under a trailer. It serves them right. So stop attacking truckers and educate car drivers and teach the car drivers how dangerous it really is when they drive around big trucks.
Red says
Hey we could just put some heavy duty airbag tubes on all 4 sides of our truck, and then all the cellphone addicts can just bounce right off us and keep on going when they’re taking a true love quiz on Facebook instead of actually driving. Then they can pretend it’s our fault, flip us off, and then tweet about their near death experience caused by some illegal-running truck driver and how lucky they were to be alive.
The old school way was to simply let the problem solve itself. The new school way seems to want to protect the idiots at the expense of everyone else. Ahhh oh well, atleast us truck drivers can deal with all this since we just have to sit on our butt all day & make the big money, right?…. (insert sarcastic eye roll here)
anthony means says
i see just as many truckers on cell phones as folks in cars.
anthony means says
will they introduce legislation to have all roads perfectly flat so we aren’t stuck all over the place? foh. this is silly stuff. need to be more vigilant and harder on shitty drivers. on both sides because i see just as many shitty truckers as people in cars. which is disappointing since we should know better.
Jack Branson says
4 wheelers need to take responsiblity
SMH says
Spooky! The first car is identical to mine–gold 2009 Malibu. Not pretty!
Jude says
I wonder how many morons watch “Smokey and the Bandit” (the first one) and think they can actually put a Pontiac Firebird under a (modified) trailer as Burt Reynolds did. Then again, since cars are built these days to be “fuel efficient” instead of “crash survivable”, I don’t doubt there a several that could go under an unmodified trailer.
Steven says
Everyone’s worries about weight I’m worried about the increase in train accidents this will cause the current air models can fold on a high cross a gaint side bumper can’t
mousekiller says
I don’t mean to be cold hearted but that is 301 stupid drivers not endangering other motorists now. How about they build cars like they did in the 40′ 50s and early 60s. Build them out of metal. instead of plastic like they do today. Then again, if they weren’t so low to the ground they would not go under so easy today. So lets ask the auto manufacturers to build them taller or at least join in on paying on for some of the mandated BS..
Just a wild thought . How about fixing things so that if your convicted of speeding or reckless driving your car is governed and monitored like the HUM thing does and if you get another ticket other than parking you license is pulled both on you and off the car. That might wake up a few. Dash cams can save you . Don’t leave home with out it.
Bobby sr says
Sense over 10000 people die in auto rollover crashes each year they should make car roofs sturdier like a rollcage that would also prevent under ride deaths as well.
ROGER G Brannon says
Why not just put six foot thick rubber padding all the way around every car and truck in America, ala bumper cars. And since most people fie of head injuries, make EVERY driver and passenger wear helmets. Why not??? Because your momma whip your butt if she had to mess up her hair to stay alive. This logic will lead to all future vehicles looking like padded tanks with a 35 mph maximum speed limit.
Faux says
With those fuel skirts my trailer bottoms out on hills and declining loading docks. Fortunately the skirts have some give and bend but to have a side underride guard it would have to be shorter than the landing gear to have the clearance necessary to not get stuck. Not low enough to stop a small vehicle from decapitation. It’s always the truckers fault he was over hours maybe to try and find a safe haven after being stuck at a shipper? 4 wheelers have no idea what truck drivers have to deal with.
Mack says
The sideguard is a half-measure to a much bigger problem we have on our hands, and the problem is stupidity. This won’t save stupid. Nor will it make them smart. It will bounce the stupid off, so they become someone elses problem. Yeah, it will make us sleep soundly that night, so I’m all for it.
Gary says
Once again, the trucking industry must pay to protect idiots from themselves.
Tom says
Why can’t Congress purpose a smarter auto driver program. Or better yet. Why can’t Congress just purpose a stay out of trucker business rule. And just be happy with the tax monies the feds, state and local government monies they collect.
MartyM says
You can’t fix stupid but you want the trucking industry to spend the money and try. As far as I’m concerned if you drive under a truck, no one should have to tell you, you don’t belong there. An industry paying for everyone else’s incompetence.
Stanley Shughart says
Here’s An idea. Term limits! It’s time we outlawed career politicians presidents get 2 terms Congress gets 2 terms. When it’s up you’re done no pension for life no nothing. Why is it the the trucking industry has to bear the cost for the stupid actions of idiots who can’t drive but rather aim their vehicle and are too busy doing everything else but that task that should be at hand. Driving!
Robert says
I totally agree.
Stanley Shughart says
Starting to think maybe natural selection may not be such a bad thing
Robert says
Darwinism at it’s best. You can’t fix stupid but you can bury it 6 feet under.
Trisha T says
If people would pay attention to their driving , this would not happen at all.
To many driving cars on ther phones. I see it 90% of my driving a day long.
Their should be a law that requires a 4 Wheeler’s to wear head sets like we do.
Robert says
There is, but people ignore it for 2 reasons. 1. Lack of enforcement.
2. Fines are not heavy enough.
If they make the fine as hard as it is for us commercial drivers, it would cut down a lot more. If we get caught looking at our phone, they can write a fine. In the case of my company, the owner refuses to pay the 11,000 fine. Not because he can’t afford it, it’s because he won’t. He just has the driver fired
Dale says
I watched video. First thing I noticed was how much greater the impact is on the trailer. Not sure if either example is connected to truck but wondering about rollover possiblity or tearing trailer off truck.
Bob says
Yes people. Since we voted for them, we deserve them.
PS: Politicians are not there for you. They’re there for them
Ken says
Take your over regulation and shove it your mother f^^^^^^^ a**, for Christ’s sakes you can’t fix stupid.
Robert says
It’s a load of crap. Iihs has no basis for the study. Crash tests are in controlled environment. It’s not real life.
Maria says
My God when are we going to start holding four wheel drivers accountable !!!
DJ Young says
Side underride guards are relatively inexpensive (compared to the cost of the trailer or the value of its load) and they save can save lives when truckers make unsafe left turns, unsafe u-turns, and park improperly. True, sometimes it is the driver of the car, not the trucker, that makes the mistake. Either way, it is part of the human experience that mistakes happen. Surely if it were your spouse or child decapitated in such a crash, you would have wished the guard (costing less than $1,000.00) would have been there to save that person’s life.